Explosive.



unseen sra'rns rarasr orsion SIGUR-D ADOLF-GUSTAFSSON NAUGKHOFF, OF V INTERVIKEN, LILJ'EHOLMEN, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO NITROGLYCERIN AKTIEBOLAGET, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Slonnn AnoLr GUS-- It has long been found desirable to havev an explosive which is betteiwuited than dynamite for blasting in loose mines, frozen earth and the like, that is an explosive of smaller shattering power but possessing however the valuable properties of dynamite such as plasticity, immunity to moisture and relativelygreat nonsusceptibility to concussion. The explosives which have-- heretofore replaced dynamite for the purposes stated, were principally ammonium ni-' 'trate or ammonium perchlorate explosives, but these are usually manufactured in the form of powder and therefore not well adapted for the above purposes.

'The'object of the present invention is an improved explosive possessing thevaluable properties of dynamite as regards plasticity, immunity from moisture, etc., in combination with the strength'and shattering power suited to its purpose, and resistance to frost. The invention consists in utilizing as a chief constituent of the explosive, so-called commercial liquid trinitrotoluene or a mixture of said substance and so-called commercial liquid dinitrotoluene with or without the addition of other substances dissolved therein, gelatinized by means of nitro-cellulose, this basis material being mixed with finely powdered, oxygen yielding substances such as ammonium perchlorate, nitrates of the alkalies, and the like. v A particularly suitable basis or solvent for nitro-cellulose is found in a by-product obtained in the manufacture of solid tri- 'nitrotoluene and consisting mainly in a mix ture of trinitrotoluene and biand mononitrotoluene, etc. This product vremains fluid at a temperature considerably below 0 C. The gelatin obtained in this manner is mixed with a suitable quantity of oxygen yielding substances such asnitrates, perchlo- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15,1913.

Application filed November 22, 1910. Serial N 0; 593,713.

rates, chromates and the like. for example ammonium perchlorate, sodium and potas sium nit-rate, whereby an explosive is obtained which is very similar in external properties to the so-called extra-dynamite. As an example of the composition 'of such an improved explosive the following is given. 7

31% gelatinized tri-nitrotoluene, consist- -ng 01 470 nitrocellulose and 96% of so-called commercial liquid trinitrotoluene.

ammonium perchlorate.

sodium nitrate.

It is known in the manufacture of explosives, for example in the making of plasto menit to gelatinized solid nitro compounds of hydrocarbons, and in other explosives diand tri-nitrotoluol in molten condition, whereby a product is obtained possessing at ordinary temperatures the consistency of hard indiarubber and used alone as a substit-ute for indiarubber, celluloid, etc., or in combination with oxygen yielding substances, as an explosive.

According to the present invention and as hereinbefore stated the solid modifications of diand tri-nitrotoluene are not used but fiuid modifications of the said compounds, by means of which a gelatin is obtained which retains its plasticity even at low temperature and is therefore well adapted as a constituent of plastic explosives.

Having thus described my invention, I declare, that what I claim is An improved plastic explosive comprising a mixture of about 31% (by weight) so called commercial liquid trinitrotoluene, gelatinized with-nitrocellulose, 43% ammonium perchlorate and 26% alkali nitrate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscrlblng witnesses.

SIGURD ADOLF GUSTAFSSON NAUCKIIOFF.

\Vitnesses 7 AUG. IIAGELIN, ALMA PETTERSSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). (3. 

